Adam The God

One of my mates' cousins is a Hawthorn player. He's relatively experienced and his contract is not quite at that $340k before match payments. I think we vastly inflate what we think players are paid because we have no [censored] idea.

It's the Hawks system that is what's so good. Their development is overrated. Sure, they developed Hodge, Franklin, Roughead, Mitchell and Lewis, but IMO that's more about system. And all the FAs and trades they've brought in for quite some time have been role players who have fitted into a system. They don't have enough guns now, so their system doesn't stand up like it once did.

Yeah, but hang on. We've been crying out for pace for a while now. It's just as likely next year another team will win it with a different mix. I'm all for pace, but West Coast won it without an abundance of it. As did the Bulldogs. Getting the structures right from a coaching level is far more important. Pace is probably an important part of that mix, but the danger of looking at the Richmond mix is that you draft too many smalls and you go the other way. Balance is needed and the game style needs to be clear, and this is, I'd suggest, what should dictate recruiting.

This is the thing. If we want fast outside pace with good foot skills, we have to trade someone. Those same people lamenting Tomlinson will be up in arms if we traded Brayshaw or Viney. But that's who we should be trading. Build your midfield around Oliver, Harmes and Petracca. They're all relatively different players. We need to add a kicker to that group. Is it Salem? Maybe, if he can hold down a midfield spot. Frost is depth. He should be on much less than $500k, though I don't particularly find debating player salary's with our lack of information that helpful.

You wouldn't trade either? I would. Not both for Gaff, but I'd trade them both for different prices.

I almost laughed out loud there. Frost is spectacular? Now I've read it all.

Goodwin didn't have a clear Plan A in 2019. Let's wait and see. And I know it's Bigfooty, but a poster over there posted today that we're paying Tomlinson $400k p.a. If that's the case, it's a no brainer.

Lol. You don't really think you can bring about change on an unofficial forum do you? And simply lambasting the club on the internet isn't really going to bring about change.

Our midfield desperately needs gut-running, two-way-running mids. Tomlinson can provide that, along with ruck cover, back cover and even forward cover. He's a role player who can fill gaps if needed or contribute to defensive running in our midfield that was so pathetic this year and half of last year.

Just because he doesn't offer leg speed, doesn't mean he can't improve our 22.

Who says we aren't also trying to add these? Our evident interest in Elliott is a clear sign of our intent to nab small forwards.

Sorry, the simplest way to compete is success and true success (ie winning flags). We added 8,000 members between 2018 and 2019 on the back of a walloping in a preliminary final. If we won a flag, we'd get 70,000 members. If we can have sustained success we start to convert other fickle supporters from other clubs like Essendon did in the 90s and Hawthorn have done in the 10s. We have a largely dormant supporter base too. It's not as big as the traditional Melbourne-based 'big' clubs, but that's due to years of being perennial losers. Winning flags changes that.

I want Goodwin sacked, Jones delisted and Viney traded. I hope 2020 turns out like Richmond's 2017.

I think he's become less erratic at Melbourne, but he's just not a natural footballer and decision making is very hard to teach under pressure. Certainly, if he hasn't learnt it by now at 26, he won't. I don't understand the hypocrisy from those who lament that Weideman is a bust as a 21 year old who hasn't dominated a game yet, while they applaud Frost (who has never dominated either) and is 26 years old.

I think I've seen you post this before, mate. Are these back issues chronic or recoverable over this pre season?

Mate, if he hasn't learnt the skills and decision making during his 8 years on two AFL lists, when are we hoping he does learn? After he's signed a big chunky contract with us? That'd be right. You're inconsistent, mate. You're constantly saying we're bent over and here you are, standing in a metaphorical park, waiting for a metaphorical rogering.

No. His manager said he wasn't seeking a trade. There's a difference.

Thanks WJ. I'm looking forward to the SMALL FORWARDS breakdown.

I'd move Jones on and trade Viney. But I also wouldn't keep Frost by overpaying him. Here's the problem. He's not very good. The same posters that are bemoaning Tomlinson's seeming recruitment are the same ones championing Frost's re-signing.

Personally, I'd go hard for Beveridge. Clarkson IP and with our midfield, he would set us up beautifully.

Ah, yes. Thank you for posting this on 15 threads this morning. ? Are we talking about the same Choco Williams who left the year before Richmond completely turned themselves around?

Nah, I'm sorry mate. The comparison is ridiculous because one played 7 games in two years before being traded and the other has played 139 (including 24 games each season for the last three seasons) across 8 seasons. So one (the guy we're going after) was seen fit to last 8 years on GWS' overly talented list until he finally left as a FA. Meanwhile, your comparative player lasted two years. Laughable. And I've never said I'm a big Tomlinson fan, I'm just not going to compare him to [censored] Kristian Jaksch. FWIW, I was very wrong on Jake Melksham, so I will reserve judgement on Tomlinson until I've seen him play a year or two with us. Even Melksham was ordinary in his first year with us, until he moved forward.

A quick small (like Elliott) -- King -- Hannan Fristch -- McDonald -- Melksham That is a much more potent forwardline, particularly with Petracca, Vandenberg and Harmes rotating in and out. Even if we by some chance get Elliott, I'd be recruiting another two zippy smalls. To be honest, they usually come out of WA or even SA/NT. It also relegates Weideman to third fiddle, but I could see us playing three talls against certain opponents. And for those implying King's recruitment is linked to the GF sprint, take a look at this thread - most of it prior to the Grand Final sprint. Ridiculous.

Jaksch is a completely different scenario. Jaksch never locked down a position at GWS, nor at Carlton. Tomlinson has played about every game for consistent finalists over a four year period. The comparison is ridiculous, frankly.

About bloody time. A Western Australian. Maybe our WA scout has been working...